Envelop



{R0 Model.)

M. DONNELLY. ENVELOP.

No. 563,847. Patented July 14, 1896.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

MARK DONNELLY, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

ENVELOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,847, dated July 14, 1896.

Application filed October 2,1895. Serial No. 564,428. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MARK DONNELLY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Charlotte, in the county of Mecklenburg and State of North Carolina, have in vented a new and useful Improvement in Envelope; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure I is a plan view of an envelop-blank according to my invention completely formed but not folded. Fig. II is a plan view of the same folded excepting one end, which is left open to receive money or other valuables. Fig. III is a plan view of the same closed. Fig. 1V is a plan view of the metallic seal. Fig. V is a longitudinal section at the line ac, Fig. Ill and Fig. VI is a transverse section at the line y, the paper and the seal being shown abnormally thick for the sake of clearness in the drawings, Figs. V and VI being drawn to a larger scale than the other views. Fig. Vll is an edgewise view of the metallic clasp with its ends bent in form to be applied to an envelop.

This invention relates to that class of envelops which are used for carrying money and other valuables by mail or express; and its object is to prevent the abstracting of any portion of the contents of a money package or envelop without leaving upon the envelop evidence that it has been tampered with.

To this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts forming an envelop hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, 5 represents the body or back of the envelop, (5 and 7 the side folds, and 8 an d 9 the end folds. The opposite sides and ends are alike and symmetrical, and it makes no difference which side is folded first. Along each edge of the folded envelop is a line of perforations 10 to prevent opening the envelop at an edge and then gumming it together without ready detection. Each side lap 6 7 is provided with slots 11 12, which register together, respectively, one above the other, when the sides are folded, and the end laps S S) are shaped with long tongues 13 14 to enter the slots 11 12 when folded.

15 is a metallic clasp, here used as a seal to hold the folds 6 7 and the tongues 13 14 secured together when the package is properly sealed. This clasp is provided with two perforations 16 17 and its ends are bent into lips 18 19. The length of the clasp is such that when folded at 20 21 its lips 18 19 are presented for registry with the perforations 16 17, and when thus folded its length is a little more than the width of the tongues 13 let and adapted to receive them both within its folds. The tongues have shoulders at 21 wider than the length of the folded clasp to prevent the latter from going too far onto the tongues and to bring the lips of the clasp to register with perforations in the tongues.

In service the two side flaps (i 7 are first to be folded. Then one of the tongues, 13, for example, is passed home into thetwo apertures 12. Now the clasp 15 may be placed in at the open. end of the envelop upon the tongue 13 and be shaken in beyond the aperture 11. Then the money, drafts, or other valuables for transportation may be placed in the envelop and the other tongue, 14, being pushed into the two openings 11, will enter the clasp and when the shoulder 21 of that tongue reaches the clasp the latter will be pushed central in the envelop by pushing the tongue 14 fully home, and at this time the lips 18 19 will stand in registry with the perforations 22 and a little pressure Will pass the lips through the ton gues,and through the perforations 16 '17 and close the folds of the clasp flatly upon the tongues, and further pressure will bend the tongues down and set them firmly upon the back of the clasp. The two side flaps 6 7 are thus pinned or bolted together by the tongues pass ing through them, and the end flaps are socured; by the clasp through their tongues.

'Furthermore the clasp is itself secure from being tampered with, as it is entirely covered beneath both side flaps of the envelop.

23 23 representlines of fine punctures partly crossing each tongue 13 14 between the clasp and the open ends, so that any effort to pull the end flaps loose from the clasp will tear the tongue at some of these lines of punctures, and directly over the location of these punctures are a series of rather large perforations Qe, serving as open windows, through which the condition of the tongues at these punctures may be readily examined.

It will now be readily understood that each TCO agent on receiving a money-package may quickly discover whether this envelop has been tampered with when he receives it, thus locating any charge of defalcation where it belongs. It will be observed that the lines of perforations '10 are directly in the lines of the folded edges, so that each perforation be comes a notch in both the top and bottom of the envelop, and if the envelop were cut open at either of these edges it would be impossi-.

\ after the tongue is pulled into place, thus uncovering the set of apertures or windows 24. located at that side.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I believe to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. In an envelop, two opposite flaps adapted to overlap each other and having each two apertures registering with two similar apertures in the other; two other flaps to cross the first two and provided each with a tongue to enter both pairs of the aforesaid apertures and a metallic clasp engaging and sealing the said tongues together, substantially as described.

2. In an envelop, overlapping side flaps having registering perforations; overlapping end flaps having tongues each to enter both side flaps at the said perforations, and a clasp joining the said tongues at a point beneath both side flaps and within the envelop, substantially as described.

8. In an envelop, overlapping perforated side flaps; overlapping end flaps having perforated tongues to enter the said perforated side flaps and a clasp folded upon itself and provided with lips bent to register with and pass through the perforations in the said tongues, substantially as described.

4:. In an envelop, overlapping, perforated side flaps; overlapping end flaps having tongues adapted to enter and pass twice through the perforated side flaps, and a clasp joining the said tongues together, each tongue having lines of fine perforations partially crossing it between the said clasp and the outer end of each tongue, substantially as described.

5. In an envelop, overlapping, perforated side 'fiaps; overlapping end flaps having tongues to enter the perforations of the side flaps; means for securing the tongues together beneath the said side flaps; lines of fine perforations partially crossing the tongues beneath the side flaps and apertures through the said side flaps forming windows over the said fine perforations, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARK DONNELLY.

Vitnesses:

J. L. ORR, D. L. McOoRn. 

